|
Notecards or post-it notes
Notecards or post-it notes are useful as they are handy. You can stick post-
its anywhere as a reminder. Just write the name, short definition, or even a
sentence as an example. Here's what your notecard could look like:
Impart: to make known
Synonyms: tell, disclose
Sentence: Teachers impart knowledge to their students.
180
Learn Suffixes
Suffixes are word endings that may change a word’s meaning. They can be
used to change a word so that it maintains the rules of grammar. Consider
the following sentences
It is a tradition in Chinese culture to eat using chopsticks.
The older generation is more traditional than today’s youth.
The wedding ceremony is traditionally conducted by a priest.
Learning suffixes and how they change words is a useful tool. With the
suffix -ally, as in “traditionally”, it is understood that we are using an
adverb describing an action. The –tion in “tradition” makes it a noun, so
it’s often placed at the beginning of a sentence. Understanding placement
of words will help you make sure sentences are grammatically correct.
Read, Read, and Read!
Today’s fast paced lifestyle makes it challenging, if not impossible, to
make the time to read. However, tor increasing English vocabulary, it’s
absolutely essential. Read what you enjoy reading in your own language
but read it in English! If you like music, read about music, if you like
business, read business!
The 30 minute Rule
The 30 minute Rule states that thirty minutes of pleasurable reading every
day will lead to amazing results in your level of English over time. ‘Thirty
minute readers’, people who read for fun for at least 30 minutes per day,
tend to have a vast vocabulary. Furthermore, several studies have
suggested that the health benefits can be considerable: living longer,
increasing IQ, and reducing stress among other perks. Over time, reading
regularly can also increase vocabulary and make it easier to utilize these
words in practical and functional situations.
Don’t worry if you can’t find the time in a busy lifestyle to pick up a book
to read.
181
Look for friends or colleagues who enjoy reading. Often times, interacting
with bookworms or avid readers will help you pick up vocabulary or new
expressions from them. Don’t hesitate to ask about anything that is
unfamiliar.
Read Newspapers
A newspaper is a very valuable tool that has a wealth of information at
your fingertips. Whether it’s the paper version or the electronic version, it
doesn’t matter. Newspapers are a tool which will spark curiosity and
encourage you to read more about a variety of topics.
Spend time interacting with expert professionals in
various fields if you can.
That doesn’t mean you need to spend time at colleges or universities.
Expand your field of awareness and interest to connect to those outside
your circle of friends and colleagues. You can join various chat forums or
groups in social media. Learn new vocabulary and subjects. You will
definitely see the difference.
182
Download a dictionary app
Anyone who wants to improve their vocabulary really must download an
app to their phone. It’s not at all practical to lug around a dictionary. A
dictionary app on a smartphone can be accessed quickly. Also, being
familiar with some online tools that give sentence examples using the
words in different contexts is extremely useful. Remember that words fit
together in sentences based on their meaning, so it’s important to always
understand the context or surrounding words so that the sentence or
expression makes sense.
Record sentences and structures in your notebook, never
single words
NEVER write a single word followed by a definition in your notebook!
Always add an example sentence and pay attention to the original sentence
where you saw this word. English words can often change meanings
depending on the prepositions they go with or the type of sentence they are
in.
For example:
He was turned away at the door because he was wearing trainers.
Meaning: He was rejected
He turned away when I tried to speak to him because he was very angry.
Meaning: He looked the other way or turned his head towards a different
direction so he didn´t have to look at me.
Make it fun!
Learning new English vocabulary words doesn’t have to be a chore! Find
ways to make it fun, interesting, and rewarding. Download a few gaming
apps that focus on building or using vocabulary words. A common one is
“Words with Friends” where you get to share and learn new words with
your own circle of friends. Try it! You will see the results.
183
O
NE
L
AST
T
HING
...
If you enjoyed this book or found it useful I’d be very grateful if you’d
post a short review on Amazon. Your support really does make a
difference and I read all the reviews personally so I can get your feedback
and make this book even better.
If you’d like to leave a review then all you need to do is click the review
link on this book’s page on Amazon here:
Thanks for reading and thanks again for your support!
184
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: | 
